Toe stop arrangement



Oct. 10, 1961 G. K. WARE TOE STOP ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 24. 1959 United States Patent 9 3,003,776 1 TOE STOP ARRANGEMENT Gordon K. Ware, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Chicago Roller Skate Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 795,199 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-11.2)

This invention relates generally to rink-type roller skates and more particularly to a toe stop arrangement for rink-type roller skates.

The roller skate structure of the present invention is of a kind which is particularly useful when it is desired to change from a small toe stop to a larger one, or vice versa, such as, for example, would be desirable in switching from pleasure skating to exhibition or competitive skating. Heretofore, a common practice has been to change from a pair of skates incorporating a small toe stop to a pair incorporating a larger toe stop. This, of course, necessitated possession of the two types of skates and frequently led to an individual skating with a toe stop not particularly suited to his desires'or to the type of skating in which he was participating. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel roller skate structure of akind which is susceptible to the attachment of ditferent toe stops and one in which changes of the toe stop are readily made.

A toe stop arrangement of the kind exemplified herein must necessarily be suitable for preventing the various stops from working loose from the skate in use, else otherwise it would be strictly limited. Hence, another object of the invention is to provide a toe stop arrangement in which the various stops are securely fastened to the toe stop supporting structure.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a roller skate structure which obviates manufacturing different model skates for large and small toe stops.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a roller skate which includes a toe stop supporting structure that precludes dirt and other foreign matter from fouling the means for fastening the toe stop to the supporting structure.

Further objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general, elevational view in reduced dimension of a roller skate fashioned in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the toe stop and toe stop supporting structure of FIG. 1, a small, cylindrical toe stop being shown;

FIG. 3 is a view through the section 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view through the section 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the toe stop supporting structure showing a large, hemispheroidal toe stop afiixed thereto;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view in much reduced dimension of the toe stop shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a'perspective view of a tool which may be used in changing from one type of toe stop to the other.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 1, there will be seen a roller skate indicated generally at 10 including a sole plate 12 to which a front wheel truck assembly 14 and a rear wheel truck assembly 16 are aflixed by rivets or other suitable means. There is additionally provided a brace bar 18 for linking the trucks 14 and -16 in spaced relationship.

3,003,776 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 The sole plate 12 terminates at its forward end in a large, depending, upwardly hollowed boss 20 which comprises the supporting structure for toe stop 22. Boss 20 is fashioned with substantial walls in order to impart strength and ruggedness thereto. Furthermore, boss 20 is provided with a central bore 24 which is threaded to receive a bushing 26, as best shown in FIG. 2. Bushing 26 is internally threaded to accept the threaded bolt 28 by which the stop 22 is aflixed to boss 20.

As best shown in FIG. 4, boss 20 presents a number of prongs or outwardly disposed dimples 29 which confront the upper face of stop 22. Prongs 29, thus disposed, assist in preventing rotation of stop 22 relative to boss 20. It is also important to point out that the uppermost surface of boss 20 is normally covered by the shoe which is attached to sole plate 12. Thus arranged, boss 20 is not susceptible of accumulating dirt and foreign matter in its upward hollow, which dirt and foreign matter could lead to fouling the threads of bore 24.

--Stop 22 represents a small stop; and in one specific embodiment, stop 22 has been fashioned in the form of a cylinder having a diameter of approximately one and three-quarters inches and a height of approximately oneinch. Stop 22 is preferably formed of some suitable, resilient material, such as rubber.

'It is important to note that bolt 28 is a relatively small diameter bolt because provision of a large bolt in the relatively small stop 22 would materially reduce the volume of rubber and thereby interfere with the resiliency of the stop. Advantageously, stop 22 includes an aperture 30 which is adapted to pass the threaded portion of bolt 28 and further includes a counterbore 32 which is adapted to receive the head of bolt 28. Additionally, stop 22 may include a washer 34 as an insert molded into the bottom of counterbore 32 in order to support the head of bolt 28.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there can be seen a large, hemispheroidal toe stop 36 afiixed to the boss 20 by means of the locknut 38 and the stud 40 which threadedly engages the bore 24. Since stop 36, like stop 22, is preferably formed from a suitable resilient material such as rubber, stud 40 may be secured to the stop 36 by having its head 42 and a portion of its threaded length molded into the stop 36. Advantageously, stop 36 terminates in a flattened, floor-engaging surface 44 at its lower extremit-y.

As shown, stop 36 represents a large stop which requires a relatively large stud because a large toe stop must withstand greater abuse, particularly from torsional forces tending to wrench such a stop from the roller skate proper. In a particular embodiment, toe stop 36 has proved useful when displaying a radius of approximately one and one-quarter inches.

According to an important feature of the invention, stop 22 may be freely and readily interchanged with stop 36 in order to adapt the skate to dilferent skating conditrons. Such interchange of the toe stops is facilitated by use of the tool shown generally at 46, as follows:

When toe stop 22 is afiixed in place on the boss 20, its removal may be initiated by inserting the tongue 48 of tool 46 in the slotted head of bolt 28. Turning the tool may affect removal of the bolt 28 from the bushing 26 and thereby removal of the toe stop 22 from the boss 20. Bushing 26 may next be removed from boss 20 by inserting the tongue 50 of tool 46 in the slot 52 thereof, whereby turning the tool may unscrew the bushing 26 from the threaded bore 24.

Stop 36 may subsequently be afiixed to boss 20 by threading the stud 40 into the bore 24 manually. When stop 36 has thus been disposed in the proper, spaced relationship with boss 20, locknut 38 may be turned down 3 against the bottom surface of boss 20 by means of the open-end-wrench portion 54 of the tool 46.

Switching from toe stop 36 to toe stop 22 may be affected by reversing the above described procedure.

Tool 46.-

alsoe be. presided with. a hexagonal apertare.- 56 which} may be employed like a box wrench in. adjusting the wheel nuts in thetmck assemblies 14 and 16.

While particular; embodiments of,v the. invention have been shown, it: will. be understood, of. course, that the. inventiom is not: limitedthereto. since manymodifications may be-made; and it: is;, therefore, contemplated: to: cover by the appended claims any such; modifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope ofrthe invention.

The invention is claimed as. follows:

1'. A roller skate.- toe, stop assemblycomprising a toe: stop! supporting structure on. the iorward. end of a roller skate and having a threaded, bore. inclined down? wardly and forwardly and, of a predetermined diameter adapted to receive. a threaded, connector of a stop memher of relatively large over alldimension, anexternally threaded. bushing received-insaid threaded bore and having an internally threadediaperture ofa reduced diameter relative to, the predetermined diameter of said. threaded bore, said-- bushing having aradialflange disposed inopposition to the adjacent outer face of said supporting structure, a toe stop of relatively small over-all dimen sion, and a bolt fixedly carriedbysaid toe stop of relatively small over-all dimension.- and having an enlarged and disposed in the body ofthe toe stop: and, a threaded end projectingfromthe upper face.- ofi thetoe-stopand threadedly engaged in the internally threaded aperture of said bushing for mounting the toe stop on said supporting structure with the central upper portion of the toe stop clamped between the enlarged end of the bolt and the radial flange on said bushing.

2. A roller skate toe stop assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial flange: on said bushing includes a tool receiving depression facilitating its application to;

and removal-from said threaded bore.

3. A roller skate toe stop assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enlarged end of the bolt includes flange means embedded in said toe stop with the material of the central upper portion thereofi clamped: between: said flange means and the radial flange on said bushing,

4. A roller skate toe stop assembly as-claimed in claim 1-, wherein the outer face of the supporting structure is provided with peripheral protuberancesv exteriorly 0i. said radial flange to engage the adjacentsurface of said toe stop.

References (Zited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,652 Lambert Dec. 25, 1900- 2,356,736. Blaes Aug.- 29,1944- 2-,691-,532 Hayner V Oct. 12.; 1954 2,696,989 Kleinman; Dec. 14, 1-954 2,706,641; Van Horn Apr. 19, 1955 2,727,749 Fackl'er Dec. 20; 1955 2,826,422 Snyder Mar. 11, 1958 

